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17 Cards in this Set

An educated guess that attempts to explain an observation or answer a question

Define theory

A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data

Define scientific law

A theory that has been tested by and is consistent with generations of data

The first step of the scientific process

Make observations

The second step of the scientific process

Form a hypothesis

The third step of the scientific process

Perform experiments to confirm the hypothesis

The fourth step of the scientific process

Hypothesis is now a theory

The fifth step of the scientific process

Perform many experiments over several years

The sixth step of the scientific process

Theory is now a law

A feather and a penny are dropped down a long tube which HAS NOT AIR in it. Which will hit the bottom of the tube first?

Neither will hit the bottom of the tube first, because they will both fall at the same rate. Since there is no air in the tube, objects fall at the same rate, regardless of their weight.

Why was the discovery of high-temperature superconductors so startling to scientists?

The discovery of high-temperature superconductors was startling because a generally accepted scientific law said that it was impossible to have high-temperature superconductors.

What are the three limitations of science?

1. It cannot prove anything. 2. It is not 100% reliable 3. It must conform to the scientific method

There is a lot of interest in religious ideas. Can a subject like religion be studied by science?

Yes, science can be used to study any question, as long as the scientific method is used.

In experiment 2.1, you dropped many objects, a book, cardboard, heavy paper, and regular paper. The heavier items fell faster than the light objects. Did you follow the scientific method?

A counter-example—an example that contradicts your previous scientific conclusion—a paperclip, lighter than the cardboard fell faster than the cardboard, rock much lighter than the book fell at the roughly the same speed as the heavy book

Lowell believed that there were canals on Mars. What observations led to his hypothesis?

He saw faint lines on the surface of Mars.

What experiments did Lowell use to confirm the hypothesis that there were canals on Mars?

His detailed studies of Mars’ surface. The canals moved. There were green areas, indications of irrigation.